Straightening machine



Jan. 24, 1928.

1,657,311 J. C. MALONE STRAIGHTENINC MACHINE Filed Aug. 6. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jan. 24, 1928.

, J. c. MALONE STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 acteristi-cs thereof.

Patented Jan. 24, 1923.

aroma c. Marlene, or BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

strnaren'rnnrne MACHINE.

Application fiiealiiu ust e, 1924. Serial no. 730,404.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of straightening lengths of material, and more particularly to a machine for the purpose of straightening wire.

lit the present time it is customary to straighten wire by the use of a rotating carrier often in theiform of a cylinder, carrying a plurality of rotary dies. Ordinarily, these rotating carriers are provided with at least one pair of adjustable dies adapted to exert varying tension on the wire being straightened. Such straighteners are-usually operated by passing the wire through the carriers, then stopping rotation thereof, and adjusting the dies in order to apply the desired tension. This operation is repeated each time anew bundle or coilof wire is to be straightened, thereby requiring a. considerable and unnecessary waste of time with a corresponding increased hazard of opera tion. W e

In an effort to overcome the defects of straighteners of this character, it has heretofore been proposed to provide an elongated wedge-shaped or tapered operating fork extending axiall into the carrier for ad- K:

ustmg one ot the dles while them-achine is in operation. Such an operating fork has not only required a Special form of straightener on which it. is. adapted to be used, but has been resilient to such an extent that the applied tension varieswith the hardness of the wire being straightened. J /ith such constructionsthe dies havenot been so mounted as to prevent their turning out of alignment in the event no wire was in position within the machine, This has necessitated the taking apart of the cylinder, usually each time a new length of wire was started throughthe straightener, in order to properly align the dies for its reception. This sametalring apart operation has also been required each time thedies had to be changed or polished to remove scratches. I j

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an attachment adapted to beapplied toany wire straightener having a plurality of rotary dies, and adapted to maintain the dies in predetermined alignment eitherwith or without wirewithin the straightener, and adapted to be operated to exert a predetermined and uniform tBIlSiOIL on the wire irrespective of the physical char- It 1s also designed to permit easy removal. of the dies for changlng or repolishing, while permitting the tension to be applied or relieved without stopping rotation of the straightener, thereby increasing the production and: efliciency thereof and at the same timelessening the hazard of operation, f

In the accompanyingdrawings there shown, for purposesof illustration only, a preferred embodiment of the present inven tion, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of the inventionas changes in the type of the straightener and in the construction and operation of the die adjusting means maybe made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or scope of my broader claims. A

in the drawings; j j

Figure 1 is a side elevation o f one form of straightener embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, on the line 11 -11. of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, I F 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, along the line III- -IH.

Fig. 4; is a perspective view of the adjusting sleeve, and. j I

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the thrust block.

In wire straighteners of the rotating cyiinder type, the adjustable dies are usually of such construction that, they are adjusted by the use of a screw, whiclnis obviously adjustable only when, the straightenergis stationary. In accordance with thepresent invention the use of such an adjusting screw is entirely eliminated and there is provided a rigid operating mechanism operableat will and effective for exerting uniform tension on the wire passing through the straightener. j

In carrying out the present invention thereinay be provided astraightenei; 2 comsubstantially .square. In, the construction Shown, the die guiding passage 7 is located prising a shaft of any desired construction,

in the intermediate portion of the straight cner, there heing two dies 7 on each side of the passage'T, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Mounted within this die guide is a die supporting block 8 carrying a fixed die 9 having a wire groove 10 se1ni-' circular in form and adaptedto embrace substantially half of the wire being straightened. Above the die block 9 is an adjustable die block 11 having a corresponding \vire re ceiving groove 12 therein. This second die lilock is adapted to he adjusted radially in order to release the wire (ii-apply a predetel-mined tension tliereto. For cll'ecting such adjustn'ient there is provided a thrust hloch 13 carrying an anti-friction roller 14- projecting beyond the end of the thrust hlork, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 and 5. It will be apparent that by reason of this construetion, in order to effect :uljustinentoi? the die block 11 it is only necessary to move the thrust block 13inwardly to the required (no tent. i

For effecting movement of the die block at any time during the operation of the straightener, there is provided a sleevelo movable axially of the die carrier and preferably continuouslysurrounding the same.

Thissleeve has an actuating groove 16 extending longitudinally thereof and of substantially constantwidth but gradually decreasing depth toward one end. In order to permit threading ofa length of wire through the die carried between the die blocks 9 and 11 the sleeve will occupy substantially the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 3. Ailter the wire has been threaded between the dies, the desired tension may he applied thereto by movingthe sleeve 15 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, from its full line to its dotted line position, thereby moving the thrust block 13 inwardly to move the die block 11 into cooperative engagement with the die block 9. It will be apparent that the amount of movement imparted to the sleeve lliivill control the-position of the die block 11 and that due to the fact that the sleeve exerts a direct thrust on this die block the position thereof, for a given position of the slceve, will always be the same irrespective of any changes in the physical chan acteristics of different lengths of wire being operated upon. This constitutes an important feature of the present invention as it eliminates yielding of thegdie blocks as is permitted where a moreor less elongated operating fork is utilized.

' For eifecting movementofthe sleeve as may be required, it is preferably provided with a peripheral groove 17 adapted to receive shoes 18 carried by pins 19 extending inwardly from the arms of ashifter yoke 20. This shifter yoke may he providedwvith trunnions journaledin suitable bearings 21 earned by standards 22 pro eeting upwardly from the frame 5 of the slu'aightener, ("Jun of the trunnions may cmry an onh mnl 23 adapted'to have an operating he or secured thereto for effecting roehin oi the shifter yokel This lever may he shifted hy hand, as will he apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1; or may be shifted by a foot lever 25 operatively connected to the hand lever hya link 26. By this construction the sleeve 15 may he quickly and at will moved are ially of the carrierto any desired position to thereby apply the desired tension to the wireheing straightened. y

The angular cross-section of lhedie guide 7 prevents the (liesiroin turning out of alignment even though no wire is present within the straightener. This makes it ill!- possihle tor the dies to turn out of alignment and insures the proper positioning of? the grooves 10 and 12 at all times. lVhen it is desired to change the dies, or repolish the same to remove scratches or the like, the sleeve 15 will simply be moved to a position to disengage the roller 14t,whereupon the thrust lilocl; and the diehlocks will he quickly removed from the carrier. a

The advantages of thepresent lnvention arise from the provision of a wlre straightener having adjustable dies positively op erahle to a predetermined position at any time during the operation of the machine. Further advantages of t the invention arise :l'rom the provision oit adjustahle dies of such construction that they are prevented from turning out of alignment and which are so mounted that they may he removed at will for changing or repolishing.

I claim: e r

1. In a wirestrightcner, a rotating carrier through \vhiclrthe wire is passed in a longitudinaldirection and having a guide thereim a tensioning die mounted for movement in said guide, {LIlCljll'lCilIlS for straightening the wire including ineansexteriorly of the carrier and partially embracing the same for adjusting the tei'isioning die for applying tension to the wire while the carrier is rotating.

wvire tensioning die in said guide, a sliding collar on the straightener, means onthe col- 1mand tensioning the for moving said die into tensioinng relation to the Wire, and

till

2. In a wire straightener; a rotating ear rier through which thewiro is passed in a vol in which the roller is seated, and means for shifting the collar for adjusting the tensioning die.

5. A wire straigl'itener having a rotary member with a plurality of straightening dies therein, there being an angular through guide in said member, a Wire tensioning die formed of a plurality of members in said guide, a collar on the rotary member for retaining the die members in said guide,

there being a cam groove in the collar for receiving one end of one of the die members, and means for shifting the collar along the rotary member during the rotation thereof for varying the tension of the die on the wire.

6. A wire straightener comprising a r0 carried thereby between which the Wire to be straightened is passed, an intermediately located two-part die, one part of the said two-part die being movable toward its opposite part and to Wire engaging position, and a manually operated slidable member mounted upon the rotatable die carrier.

7. A wire straightener comprising a rotatable shaft provided centrally with a longitudinal aperture for the passage therethrough of a Wire to be straightened, a plurality of transverse apertures for straightening dies one of said apertures being 10- rated midway between the other apertures for the reception of a two-part die. a twopart die one part thereof being movable to and from its other part, a slidable member mounted upon the exterior of the shaft and rotatable therewith, said member having an inclined portion for engagement with the movable member of the die, and manually actuated means for reciprocating the slide to effect an inward movement of the movable part of the die.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN 'C. MALONE. 

